Cáncer oral

Understanding Oral Cancer

Oral cancer includes cancers of the lips, tongue, gums, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, and throat. While it is a serious and potentially life-threatening diagnosis, it is also highly treatable when caught in its earliest stages.

At Love Your Jaws, oral cancer screenings are a standard part of our comprehensive examinations. As a Board-Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Dr. Kroum Dimitrov is uniquely trained to identify pathological changes in the mouth and neck that might be overlooked during a routine dental cleaning.

---

Recognizing the Warning Signs

Oral cancer often begins as a tiny, unnoticed white or red spot or sore. Because it is frequently painless in its early stages, many patients don’t realize anything is wrong.

What to Look For	Description
Non-Healing Sores	A sore or ulcer that bleeds easily and does not heal within two weeks.
Color Changes	Red or white patches (leukoplakia or erythroplakia) on the gums, tongue, or cheek lining.
Lumps or Thickening	A lump, thickening, or «rough spot» in the soft tissues of the mouth or neck.
Functional Pain	Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue.
Numbness	Unexplained numbness or pain anywhere in the mouth or lip area.

---

Who is at Risk?

While anyone can develop oral cancer, certain lifestyle factors significantly increase your risk.

• Tobacco Use: This is the primary risk factor. This includes cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and smokeless (chewing) tobacco.
• Alcohol Consumption: Heavy alcohol use, especially when combined with tobacco, dramatically increases the risk.
• HPV (Human Papillomavirus): There has been a significant rise in oropharyngeal (throat) cancers linked to the HPV-16 virus, even in younger non-smokers.
• Sun Exposure: Prolonged exposure to the sun increases the risk of lip cancer.
• Age & Gender: Oral cancer is more common in men and individuals over the age of 45.

---

The Screening & Diagnostic Process

If Dr. Dimitrov identifies a suspicious area during your exam, we take immediate action to provide clarity and peace of mind.

1. The Clinical Exam

We perform a visual and manual inspection of your mouth, tongue, and neck. We are looking for asymmetries, color changes, or palpable lumps.

2. Oral Biopsy

If a lesion is found, a biopsy is necessary to determine if it is cancerous. This involves removing a small sample of the tissue under local anesthesia. The sample is then sent to a specialized oral pathologist for microscopic analysis.

3. Advanced Imaging

In some cases, we utilize 3D Cone Beam CT (CBCT) imaging to see if the pathology has affected the underlying bone structure of the jaw.

---

Why Choose Love Your Jaws for Cancer Screening?

Diagnosis and treatment of oral pathology require a high level of surgical expertise. Trained at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Dr. Dimitrov has extensive experience in the diagnosis and surgical management of oral lesions and tumors.

We work closely with a network of top-tier oncologists and radiation specialists in South Florida to ensure that if a diagnosis is made, you have a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary team fighting for your health.

Don’t Wait and See. A ten-minute screening could save your life. If you have a sore that hasn’t healed or a lump that feels «off,» let an expert take a look. Schedule Your Oral Cancer Screening Today